Electronic image identification response game

ABSTRACT

An electronic game that allows a user to play the game of ROCK, SCISSORS, PAPER. The game includes a display that can display either a ROCK, a SCISSOR or a PAPER. The game further has three inputs. Each input corresponding to either a ROCK, a SCISSOR or a PAPER. The user is successful if they timely select an input that trumps the displayed image. For example, if the displayed image is a ROCK, the user will be successful if they select an input that corresponds to PAPER.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic game.

2. Prior Art

There have been marketed various electronic games that require some typeof user input. For example, Hasbro Games marketed a game under the nameBOP-IT that required a user to pull, twist or press a button in responseto a series of commands generated by a circuit within the toy. Theplayer's input had to correspond exactly with the commands generated bythe toy. The toy would vary the commands to increase the difficulty ofproviding successful user inputs.

Milton Bradley Company marketed a product under the name SIMON. TheSIMON toy would generate a sequence of lights and sounds. The user wouldthen depress a series of buttons to match the generated sequence. TheSIMON toy allowed one user to create a sequence that had to beduplicated by an opposing player.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electronic game that has a display and a plurality of inputs. Thedisplay can display one of a plurality of images. The game has a circuitthat selects one of the images for display. The circuit counts a successif an input that trumps the selected image is timely selected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an electronic game;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the electronic game;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of the electronicgame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is an electronic game that allows a user to play a game ofROCK, SCISSORS, PAPER in various forms. The game includes a display thatcan display either a ROCK, a SCISSOR or a PAPER. The game further hasthree inputs. Each input corresponds to either a ROCK, a SCISSOR or aPAPER. The user is successful if they timely select an input that trumpsthe displayed image. For example, if the displayed image is a ROCK, theuser will be successful if they select an input that corresponds toPAPER.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIG. 1shows an embodiment of an electronic game 10. The game 10 includes ahousing 12. The housing 12 may be constructed from a hard plasticmaterial. Attached to the housing 12 is a display 14. The display 14 maybe an LCD or other type of display device. The display 14 displays animage 16. The image 16 may either be a ROCK, a SCISSOR or a PAPER.

The game 10 also includes three inputs 18, 20 and 22. The inputs 18, 20and 22 may be buttons that can be depressed by a user. Input 18 maycorrespond to a ROCK and have a corresponding ROCK image on the inputbutton 18. Input 20 may have a corresponding SCISSOR image, and input 22may have a corresponding PAPER image. Alternatively, each input button18, 20 and 22 may include a display screen that can display one of theROCK, SCISSOR or PAPER images. Each button 18, 20 and 22 can be an LCD,or a translucent button that contains the ROCK, SCISSOR or PAPER imageand is illuminated by one or more LEDs below the button.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit 30 of the game. The circuit 30 may include aprocessor 32 and a memory 34. The memory 34 may store data andinstructions that are processed by the processor 32 in accordance with asoftware/firmware routine. The processor 32 may be connected to thedisplay 14 and the inputs 18, 20 and 22. The processor 32 can generatean output to create the image in the display 14. The processor 32 mayalso process input from the inputs 18, 20 and 22. The circuit 30 mayhave various driver, A/D, D/A, etc. circuits to receive inputs andgenerate outputs. The circuit 30 may include a speaker 36 to provideaudio feedback. The display 14 may also, or alternatively, providevisual feedback. The circuit 30 may be powered by a battery 38 and/or apower cord plugged into a wall outlet (not shown).

In operation, the processor 32 creates an image in the display 14. Byway of example, the image may be a ROCK. The user must select an inputbutton 18, 20 or 22 within a time interval. If the user selects thePAPER input 22, the processor 32 will increment a success counter,because PAPER trumps ROCK. If the user selects either ROCK or SCISSORthen the success counter is not incremented and the processor can recordan end of game due to the unsuccessful response of the player.

After a successful response, the processor 32 may then generate a newimage, for example a SCISSOR. If the user timely selects the ROCK inputbutton 18, the processor increments the success counter. A subsequentPAPER image may be generated on the display 14. If the user timelyselects the SCISSOR input 20, then the success counter is once againincremented. The speaker 36 and/or display 14 may provide feedback tothe user of the value in the success counter. For example, the speakermay generate a message “You have won three games”.

If the input buttons 18, 20 and 22 can display an image, the ROCK,SCISSOR, PAPER images for each button can be varied after each game toincrease the complexity of game play. Likewise, the time interval forselecting an input can be varied to change the difficulty of game play.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the electronic game 10′, whereinthe display contains permanent ROCK, SCISSOR and PAPER images 16′ in thedisplay 14′. One of the images is illuminated to indicate that theilluminated image is in play. The game buttons 18′, 20′ and 22′ may eachhave input displays 40. Each button display 40 displays either a ROCK, aSCISSOR or a PAPER image. The image for each button 18′, 20′ and 22′changes after each play. The user must timely select a button thattrumps the illuminated image in display 14′ to increment the successcounter.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments aremerely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, andthat this invention not be limited to the specific constructions andarrangements shown and described, since various other modifications mayoccur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.

The processor may operate the game so that one player must provide asuccessful response to the response of another player. For example, ifone player selects ROCK, a second player must select PAPER within acertain time limit to trump the first player.

1. An electronic game, comprising: a housing; a display that is coupledto said housing and displays one of a plurality of displayed images; afirst input that is coupled to said housing and corresponds to a firstimage; a second input that is coupled to said housing and corresponds toa second image; a third input that is coupled to said housing andcorresponds to a third image; and, a circuit that selects one of saiddisplayed images and counts a success if one of said first, second orthird inputs is timely selected and trumps said selected displayedimage.
 2. The game of claim 1, wherein said selected displayed image iseither a ROCK, a SCISSOR or a PAPER.
 3. The game of claim 2, whereinsaid first input is a ROCK, said second input is a SCISSOR and saidthird input is a PAPER.
 4. The game of claim 3, wherein said circuitcounts a success if said selected displayed image is a ROCK and saidthird input is selected.
 5. The game of claim 3, wherein said circuitcounts a success if said selected displayed image is a SCISSOR and saidfirst input is selected.
 6. The game of claim 3, wherein said circuitcounts a success if said selected displayed image is PAPER and saidsecond input is selected.
 7. The game of claim 1, wherein said circuitvaries said selected displayed image.
 8. The game of claim 1, whereinsaid first, second and third inputs each have an input display, and saidcircuit can vary an image displayed by said input displays.
 9. The gameof claim 1, wherein said circuit generates an output to indicate anumber of successful counts.
 10. The game of claim 1, wherein saidcircuit varies a time interval for selecting one of said first, secondor third inputs.
 11. An electronic game, comprising: a housing; adisplay that is coupled to said housing and displays one of a pluralityof displayed images; a first input that is coupled to said housing andcorresponds to a first image; a second input that is coupled to saidhousing and corresponds to a second image; a third input that is coupledto said housing and corresponds to a third image; and, circuit means forselecting one of said images and counting a success if one of saidfirst, second or third inputs is timely selected and trumps saiddisplayed image.
 12. The game of claim 11, wherein said selecteddisplayed image is either a ROCK, a SCISSOR or a PAPER.
 13. The game ofclaim 12, wherein said first input is a ROCK, said second input is aSCISSOR and said third input is a PAPER.
 14. The game of claim 13,wherein said circuit means counts a success if said selected displayedimage is a ROCK and said third input is selected.
 15. The game of claim13, wherein said circuit means counts a success if said selecteddisplayed image is a SCISSOR and said first input is selected.
 16. Thegame of claim 13, wherein said circuit means counts a success if saidselected displayed image is PAPER and said second input is selected. 17.The game of claim 11, wherein said circuit means varies said selecteddisplayed image.
 18. The game of claim 11, wherein said first, secondand third inputs each have an input display, and said circuit meansvaries an image displayed by said input displays.
 19. The game of claim11, wherein said circuit means generates an output to indicate a numberof successful counts.
 20. The game of claim 11, wherein said circuitmeans varies a time interval for selecting one of said first, second orthird inputs.
 21. A method for operating an electronic game, comprising:displaying one of a plurality of displayed images in a display;selecting one of a plurality of inputs; and, counting a success if theinput is selected in a timely manner and trumps the displayed image. 22.The method of claim 21, wherein the displayed image is either a ROCK, aSCISSOR or a PAPER, and the input is either a ROCK, a SCISSOR or aPAPER.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein a success is counted if thedisplayed image is a ROCK and a PAPER input is selected.
 24. The methodof claim 22, wherein a success is counted if the displayed image is aSCISSOR and a ROCK input is selected.
 25. The method of claim 22,wherein a success is counted if the displayed image is a PAPER and aSCISSOR input is selected.
 26. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising varying the displayed image and selecting one of the inputs.27. The method of claim 21, wherein the inputs display a plurality ofinput images and the input images are varied.
 28. The method of claim21, further comprising generating an output to indicate a number ofsuccessful counts.
 29. The method of claim 21, further comprisingvarying a time interval for selecting one of the inputs.